Rescue insists on a cat flap

[autumndays2019]

How normal is this??

My local cat rescue insists on a cat flap if you re-home a single cat and work out of the home.

They have turned me down post home check when I reiterated that I won't be installing a cat flap into my large double glazed French doors. I know it can be done by buying another glazing unit for the door but I don't want to do that!

This is after 30 years of having large and small animals, cats that lived happily until their late teens (without a cat flap), lovely dog pts recently that was vv old.

I don't want a cat flap - cat will either be inside or outside depending on what they want to do that day!

I should add mine was from cats protection who were great. I didn't have a home check
I homed him as an indoor FIV and cat flu cat. He has neither
Woman who does the homing said they "don't do exchanges on weirdo black cats but she would have him like a shot"
I got a load of info as he was my first cat but he strolled out the carrier, purred and plonked himself in my lap so I threw the booklet about "your cat may hide for a few weeks" in the bin
He decided I was his human, he had been stray for four years and that was quite long enough thank you very much

Nice queen, my cats have always chosen in or out, never had a flap.

One of my best friends owns a huge cattery, she can’t believe I have been turned down.

I will give it a few days and then look elsewhere - have already applied at another rescue.

I would hate to feed the prats who sell kittens on gumtree etc. I will ask my vet and around first .... but if the rescues are so precious there’s no wonder these people thrive.

Here's the little weirdo before and now

We've never had a cat flap into the house. We put on into the garage for bad weather but cat won't use it unless I shut him in the garage and then he exits through it promptly. We let ours in and out as the day goes along, but are going to build him a little cat shelter incase we are out one day and the weather takes a turn for the worst.
I wouldn't want one in my nice patio doors either.
Sister put on in and her cat invited all the neighbour cats in, her house looked a mess, she came home to cats fighting in her kitchen.

Find another rescue where I got mine did not insist on this.

I got my boy from RSPCA and they didn't care whatsoever about cat flaps! All they asked was did I live on a main road, other than that I wasn't asked hardly anything - no home check.

On the day I met him they were asking if I wanted to take him there and then! He'd been there over a month though (mental because he's such a lovely cat) and they honestly seemed so relieved to rehome him. So much so they gave me a free carrier

They literally were over run though and had so many little kittens and the adult cats weren't getting a look it. But I wanted a slightly older cat with an established personality. And a wonderful match we are.

Please do try another rescue. I have had cats for over 20 years and never had a catflap. It depends on the cat and your precise situation but I am surprised it’s a blanket no. Without being too revealing can you hint where vaguely you are? People may be able to suggest rescues. Good luck.

I do have a cat flap - linked to my phone - but I work all day and she leaves the house about ten times a day, only ever outside for an hour or two max (sometimes less hen five minutes).

But I wasn’t allowed a cat from the rescue, beciase I work. I bought mine from a farmer.

Rescues have far too many rules, my cat is treated like a princess and has an excellent diet and healthcare. But apparently I am not good enough for them.

It's a silly rule imo, my cat is allowed out when someone is home and we leave the french doors open all day when we're there but we bring her in when we go out and at night. Don't see what the issue with this is.

A crazy rule, can we not be trusted to make the best decisions for our pets.
I had a similar problem visiting the cats protection, having had cats all my life who lived to a ripe old age.
They googled where I lived and could see I lived across the road from fields...so that was a no as the cat may wander over to the fields.
I also had another cat at home which they insisted it would be cruel to introduce another cat to.
I am sorry to say I was forced down the Gumtree route. However I made sure I was not held hostage to the crazy prices and managed to get one quite cheaply.
This stupidity is what is driving prices on such websites and they are responsible for that.

I agree that the rescues are responsible for the many kitten sales on Gumtree crimson. Bloody stupid.

Caring for a cat is not rocket science whether you are an owner, rescuer, charity or cattery is it. Yet these people seem to think it is and their word is law.

Absolutely laughable that vets aren't the best people to advise on flea and worm treatments.

Look at this .... A cats natural territory is 3 times the size of the average house and garden. Restricting them inside causes stress, stress related illnesses and weight problems. We believe cats should be allowed to express natural behaviours and if given the choice they would choose to go outside. If it was the cats choice to stay in, the owner wouldn't have to ensure that doors and windows are kept closed.
Hence it is shelter policy not to rehome kittens if you live within 120 metres/130 yards (or approximately 5 tennis courts length) of a railway line or busy road. These include main roads, bus routes, school runs or roads used as short-cuts. We will not rehome single kittens to households where no-one is at home during the day or any kittens with children under 5 years. No cat will be considered for rehoming where a child is under 3 years. A cat flap must be fitted if you are in full-time employment. All homes will be subject to a home visit.

My three cats that made it to their late teens lived with a railway line into London at the end of my garden for several years with a main London road in front of the house - then on a rural A road for several years. They were here when DD was born and lived until she was between 6 and 9 respectively.

I was less than impressed when I visited and they tried to palm the kitten son of the cat I had chosen off on me, trying to persuade me to have two cats instead of one. I only want one and I want a female cat. 'they are very close', well of course they are, they have spent the last four months together in a cage. 'why do you only want one' because they are a fifteen-twenty year commitment and I will be retired by then.

Not impressed at all but it is nice to know that I am not alone in an odd way.

On the flip side, here in NS Canada, when you adopt, you have to agree to keep them as indoor cats only.

I have no desire for it to be an indoor cat though.

That would be a very unusual situation in the UK unless it had FELV or some other condition that meant it needed to stay in.

I think keeping a cat indoors is a bit cruel. If i lived in a block of flats I can understand it, but to demand even people with gardens keep them inside is rotten. Whats the reasonong behind it?

Standard in the US to keep cars indoors too. We actually tried to make ours go out when he was younger and lived in the U.K. but he wasn’t having any of it which was odd as all of my previous cats have loved to roam. Probably for the best though as he’s adapted to life across the pond very well! I think the reasoning is that it keeps the cat safe from cars, diseases, other wildlife, more extreme weather etc. but I’m sure part of it comes down to twitchy home owners associations not wanting cats pooping in their flowerbeds!

I took my cats to the US with me when I moved there and they went outside. None of my American friends kept their cats in either.

On the subject of cat rescues:
When our old cat Felix went missing (chipped, registered - still listed as missing, vaccinated, neutered) I learned that cat rescues often ignore chips and do not read them out to return the cats to their owners.

It is utter bullshit. We rehomed from a very small, homely rescue. We took on a 4 year old male. We both work nearly full time. Cat generally goes out hunting at night and is waiting to come in in the morning. He then spends most of the day lounging around inside until we get home when he may or may not decide he wants to go out. I was considering the whole cat flap in French doors idea but it is completely unnecessary. Cats are very adaptable animals. They do not all need cat flaps. I honestly think some of these rescues are utterly ridiculous. What a cat needs is a warm place to sleep, food, strokes and access to outside. In summer our cat will sometimes go out in the morning. I call him before I leave for work. If he doesn't come back he stays out. He is absolutely fine because he is a cat not a child!

I put a tunnel cat flap through a wall for my Dkitty as I didn't want to ruin the French doors.
At 18 I can't leave her out all day when I'm at work as she sleeps most of the time but she lives to go for a twice a day walk in the garden and I just can't take those last little pleasures away from her. Perhaps I'm too soft.

I am not that soft madcatlady.

Agree it’s batshit but 🤷🏻‍♀️. Am going to the blue cross tomorrow- doesn’t appear to be run by the same sort 🤞🏻.

Much better experience at BlueCross. Am picking cat up next weekend.

hurrah!
Was gonna say friend got a kitten from CPL 8 months ago; no catflap then and friend works FT.

They were lovely, recognised that I am a responsible pet owner and that it isn't rocket science.

Lovely, tiny, little cat who was dumped at the centre close to giving birth. She is due to be spayed in the week.

Really nice experience.

I’ve never had a cat flap either (and wouldn’t, don’t want any ‘presents’ making their way into the house) and adopted my Dcat from CPL! If I’m not at home, she stays indoors, where I know she is safe. I only ever let her out when I am home, just in case (and we live in a cul-de-sac in a quiet village). She hasn’t suffered in the past 10 years we’ve had her for not having access to a cat flap! 🙄 All they wanted to know in the home check was that she would have access to a safe garden and we didn’t live on or very close to a main road... 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m all for rescues making sure the people they rehome to are suitable but this is just bonkers! 😨

Our rescue told me to put the cat in her basket next to the parked car then rev it to associate it negatively and keep away from cars.
I nodded.
And keep our cat indoors because we have a busy road by us. She has loads of cat suitable places high, low and warm in the house. We play with her loads.